Europe For Citizens

Beyond the borders: Active Citizens build a new European perspective

The project ” Beyond the borders: Active Citizens build a new European perspective” took place in March 2016 and aimed at building a network of partners active in the field of active citizenship in two internal Mediterranean cities affected by depopulation. The main aims were: to promote transnational cooperation among Italy and Portugal, sharing and transferring information, good practice and knowledge on improving the quality of the life in inner depressed areas raising their opportunity stimulating the active citizenship.

The overall aim of the project was to stimulate active citizenship actions in between the two countries in order to facilitate intercultural dialogue and to foster the sense of solidarity.

Both Municipalities are facing serious problems and both belong to really depressed areas (affected by geographical isolation: Internal rural areas in Gallura and the northern region of Portugal) and their economy is mainly based on third sector.

Tempio Pausania and Barcelos share similar traditions and both of them realized several local action based on the promotion of active citizenship (voluntary work, university of the third ages, social tourism) which are become during the years a strong column of the population.

In time of economic crisis, stimulating solidarity among citizens through be local actions means sorting out from the sense of isolation and frustration which affects the majority of the population.

The Municipality of Tempio Pausania hosted 50 participants of different ages from both municipalities to create a moment of knowledge and mutual understanding and an occasion for exchanging ideas, raising awareness about common issues and studying solutions to common problems, encouraging active citizenship and having the pleasure to meet each other.

Activities:

-Platform network: create jointly action of exchange of volunteers and common future European projects

Enjoy Tourism

The project “Enjoy Tourism” was aimed to build a network of partners active in the field of seaside tourism in two Mediterranean countries affected by economic crisis. The main aims were: to promote transnational cooperation among, sharing and transfering information, good practice and knowledge on improving the quality of the life through tourism, specially regions in crisis or conversion, to create a transnational, crossborder learning network on tourism strategies in southern regions, to improve the quality of Tourism by strengthen the involvement of civil society.

Olbia and Aljaraque have many similarities: they belong to a Southern EC, they share the same Mediterranean culture, they are facing the same problems with the economical crisis and their economy is mainly based on tourism.

The project consisted in gathering 60 participants of different ages from both municipalities to create a moment of knowledge and mutual understanding and an occasion for exchanging ideas, raising awareness about common issues and studying solutions to common problems, discovering respective cultural heritage and having the pleasure to meet each other.
The main theme of the project was be based on the promotion of euro-mediterranean tourism (common roots) mostly focus on their traditions.
This project aimed at gathering information about the present condition of tourism education in both countries, to provide support to workers in tourism industry with the opportunities of sharing best practice and know how.
This project purported itself to raise awareness of the valorization of both traditions in order to attract tourist creating new perspective of employement. We wished to strengthen cooperation through the creation of a network of partners.

Project activities :
-Platform network:intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding through exchanging best practice ;
-Creation of a common event
In the context of the above, the two municipalities will read and sign the Twinning Oath.

Discovering ancient Roots

MVNGO was the coordinating organisation of the Europe for Citizens project “Discovering ancient Roots”.

The aim targeted by the Project was to underline the importance of European integration through traditions.

The Municipality of Nuoro in Sardinia (Italy) and Elche in Spain have many similarities: they share very ancient roots and common values. Ancient traditions are fundamental veichle for promoting a sustainable tourism for their territory.

The project consisted in gathering 50 participants of different ages from both municipalities in Sardinia to create a moment of knowledge and mutual understanding and an occasion for exchanging ideas, raising awareness about common issues and studying solutions to common problems, discovering respective cultural heritage and having the pleasure to meet each other.

The main theme of the project was based on the promotion of social tourism (common roots) mostly focus on traditions like carnival, folks, food and beverages, etc.

With this project we proposed ourselves to raise awareness about the valorization of both traditions in order to attract tourists creating new opportunities of employability. One of the aims was to share best practices about cultural tourism. Three main areas of activities:

–Events about active citizenship and employability: cultural tourism and new job opportunities, analysis of common problems and how to face them creating twining cultural events;

–Workshops and lectures about common issues: European citizenship, cultural tourism (educational tour in the archeological site area).

The choice of these areas was aimed at allowing the direct involvement of citizens, cultural events and informal meetings. Nuoro and Elche have in common a strong touristic tradition but usually, tourists usually don’t experience the full beauty of these regions, but just the sea. In the context of the above, the two municipalities read and signed the Twinning Oath.

The cities of intercultural dialogue

The project “The cities of intercultural dialogue” was aimed at building a network of partners active in the field of sustanaible tourism in two peripherical Mediterranean cities affected by economic crisis.

The main aims were: to promote transnational cooperation among Italy and Spain, sharing and transfering information, good practice and knowledge on improving the quality of the life in rural areas through tourism through the offer of new employability opportunities for their inhabitants, to create a transnational learning network on sustainable tourism strategies in south regions, to revitalize the flow of tourism by strengthening the involvement of civil society.

Telit and Purchena have many similarities: they belong to a South EC, they share the same Mediterranean culture, they are facing the same problems with the economic crisis, both of them are based in a rather depressed area (affected by geographical isolation: Internal rural areas in Gallura and the region in the deepest south of Spain, Almeria) and their economy is mainly based on agriculture. During the recent past, both of them are facing an incresing phenomenon: youth brain drain. MT and MP share similar traditions and both of them realized a yearly intercultural event based on the promotion of ancient traditions which have become a powerful economic driver throughout the years.

The project consisted in gathering 50 participants of different ages from both municipalities to create a moment of knowledge and mutual understanding and an occasion for exchanging ideas, raising awareness about common issues and studying solutions to common problems, new perspective of employment, discovering respective cultural heritage and having the pleasure to meet each other. Foreseen activities: